Occasionally we get to tell great stories here on the blog about some of the families that God is using to build Access Church.

If you’ve started to come to Access but have hesitated to join a Community Group, perhaps Chris and Sarah Kamienski can convince you.

Chris and Sarah were married in 2003 and moved to Jacksonville in 2005. They quickly connected with a small group in Jacksonville, but they struggled to plug into a church. After two-and-a-half years, several couples in their small group became involved in other things. The couples remained friends, but most weren’t committed to the group anymore. Chris and Sarah decided it was time to seriously start looking for a church.

A friend of Sarah’s saw an article in the newspaper about Access Church and saw that Andy Stanley is our primary teaching pastor. Sarah had been listening to podcasts of Andy and enjoyed his teaching. Chris was also familiar with Andy, and they decided to give Access a try.… Read the rest

Recently, we received this story of how God is working in the life of one of our UpStreet volunteers:

I did not grow up in church and have never been an intimate part of a church body. This is the first time I have been truly involved and ingrained in a church. For almost 3 years now, I have lived life alongside other people entrenched in Access and what we’re doing in Jacksonville and it has strengthened my daily walk with Christ in ways I never imagined.

During worship on Sunday I looked around at my husband, my closest friends, acquaintances, and strangers in amazement that we were joined in worshipping our Lord and Savior.

Through small group, each time we meet in Upstreet, and during the volunteer trainings, I have experienced the amazing thing God does amongst a group of believers. It has been an immense honor and joy to be involved with Access and I am so grateful that God allows me the opportunity to do life with all these followers!

2. We’re in the middle of a fantastic Sunday-morning series called, LO$T. It’s an amazing perspective on God & money. Bottom line: it’s not about what God wants from you, but rather what he wants for you. Petty powerful stuff. Join us at 9:00 or 10:30am.

This is our response—not our retreat! We are not fearful—instead we are tremendously bullish about what God is going to do in our community in the months to come! But, in order to be able to respond to the opportunities God brings our way, we must be financially fit.

If you are fearful about your finances, I have two suggestions.… Read the rest

Join the Access family as we enjoy Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano (JohnnySwim) at Square One in San Marco!

They’ll be performing familiar covers as well as some of their original music. It’ll be a great time to hang out with other people from Access as well as enjoy great music in a lively atmosphere.

JohnnySwim will begin performing at 8:00pm and wrap up around 9:30 or 10:00pm on Thursday, November 13. They will also be leading worship at Access Church that Sunday, November 16.

Abner Ramirez, a Jacksonville original, moved to Nashville several years ago to pursue his career in music. He soon met Amanda Sudano, daughter of disco-queen Donna Summer, and the duo blended their beautiful vocals to form JohnnySwim.